Writing - It's Good for You

by Nancy Pierce Morgan, MA

“I can handle the physical side
of cancer,” says a woman at a support
group. “It’s the emotional side – worrying
about my young daughter’s future
– that is so hard.” Feelings like this are
frequently expressed by survivors, and
for good reason. A cancer diagnosis
presents unknowns in all aspects of life.
Health, work, relationships, appearance,
and identity are all called into question.
The emotional burden of cancer can be
overwhelming. Knowing how and when
to express emotions and the benefits of
self expression may help.

Habits of expression are shaped by
family, culture, and circumstance. Many
of us are taught to keep a stiff upper
lip, to not dwell on problems. In the
case of cancer, concerned family and
friends may also be reluctant to discuss
it. Yet people with cancer want to address
all aspects of healing to ensure
the best treatment outcome, and studies
continually show that expressing feelings
may contribute to good health.

How can cultural norms and family
expectations be respected while finding
relief from the emotional impact of
cancer? Writing is one particularly accessible
and tested method. Writing
can be private, yet highly effective in
helping people articulate thoughts and
feelings about cancer find relief in communicating
those feelings. Research
suggests this relief may come in the
form of improved sleep quality, reduced
pain and symptom awareness, improved
communication, and fewer
doctor visits.

As an example of how many cancer
centers incorporate therapeutic writing,
at the Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer
Center where I work, writing is introduced
in several ways:

weekly writing workshops

the distribution of writing prompts

research on writing and health

the annual publication of Lombardi
Voices, an anthology of writing by
people with cancer and caregivers

scheduled readings

offering blank journals and information
about writing benefits at the
new-patient orientation

Nancy Morgan

The expression of thoughts and
feelings is encouraged as part of
good health. Universal themes related
to nature, family, and identity
are introduced as catalysts for writing.
Expressive writing is free of academic
rules, competition, or critique. Writing
a story from life experience, whether
shared or kept private, can be cathartic
and life-affirming. Positive feedback
about the benefits of weekly writing
from participants in writing programs
at Lombardi was so consistent we decided
to contribute to the growing body
of evidence with our own study, published
in The Oncologist.

Twenty years of research in controlled
laboratory settings indicates writing may
contribute to improved physical and
emotional health. Our study moved research
from the lab to the waiting room
of a busy cancer clinic. We invited
people with leukemia and lymphoma in
our hospital waiting room to participate
in the study. Participants completed surveys
and responded to the question,
“How has cancer changed you, and
how do you feel about those changes?”

Study results suggest there may be
a link between those who felt writing
changed the way they thought about
their cancer
and an improved
physical
quality of life
(reported weeks
later in a followup
interview).
Most participants
described
a pattern of
emotional
change during
their cancer experience, starting with
the shock of diagnosis, then moving
to acceptance, gratitude, and descriptions
of life improvements in the areas
of family, self-care, spirituality, and
work. As one participant wrote, “I don’t
like to talk about the cancer even though
I feel like I should. Writing helps to
get the feelings out of me.”

Whether you use writing to take a
break from cancer or to confront cancer
directly, writing becomes a surprisingly
effective tool for self expression and
simply feeling better.

Try It!

Write for a respite from cancer:
Trees often figure prominently in
childhood memories as a source of
strength, beauty, shade, protection,
or games. Write about a tree that
was a part of your childhood and
why it was important to you.

Write to confront cancer: Answer
the question, “How has
cancer changed you, and how do
you feel about those changes?”

Reflect: After completing your
writing exercise, reflect on how the
writing makes you feel during, immediately
after, and later that day.

Your thoughts and feelings about
writing can help you decide if writing
is a useful coping tool for you.

♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦

Nancy Morgan is a
writing clinician and director of the
Arts and Humanities program at Lombardi
Comprehensive Cancer Center
at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.

This article was published in Coping® with Cancer magazine,
March/April
2009.